Guess where I'll be on Friday morning? Down on my hands and knees, scrambling through the grass and marching through the shrubbery at our local park -- because iPhone and Blackberry case maker Speck is hosting an Easter hunt that grownups will be hopping up and down for! The Easter Bunny will be hiding 350 Speck iPhone 3G/3GS and BlackBerry Cases around Palo Alto's Rinconada Park, along with a special Golden Case that entitles the finder to a free iPad! Here are the deets:

WHAT: In an Egg-cellent twist on a favorite Spring holiday, Palo Alto ’s Speck Products hired on the Easter Bunny to stash 350 iPhone and BlackBerry cases all over Rinconada Park ! Not only is the public is invited to come search for fun, festive spring-colored cases for their portable gadgets, the lucky hunter who finds one “golden” iPhone case will win a new Apple iPad. Always thinking out of the box, this is the Palo Alto-based company’s Specktackular way of kicking off spring while giving back to its hometown!

DETAILS:Speck, a leading designer and manufacturer of cases and bags for popular consumer electronics, is treating its home town to a lot of free cases and a little community bonding. Three-hundred and fifty cases for iPhone 3G/3GS and various BlackBerry Smartphone models will be hidden throughout the park. The hunter that finds the golden iPhone case can redeem the case for an Apple iPad, sent the following week to the winner’s home. Attendees will also receive a 25% off coupon for Speck’s online store.

Disclosure: I did not receive a sample or monetary compensation for this post. Unless clearly stated, the views and opinions expressed here are my own.

Here's a photo from the Bakugan-themed birthday party I hosted for 3Po and Jammy at the end of January. We had Bakugan-themed games, crafts, food, decor and goody bags! Alfie says I can get overly anal about planning themed-birthday parties (there was that time I actually squeezed myself into a tutu for The Pea's 6th birthday), but honestly, I have just as much fun planning and preparing for the party as I do at the party itself. And the kids' enjoyment makes all the effort totally worth it.

Truthfully, I couldn't have done any of the parties I've done without all the ideas I got from various friends and online birthday party sites. Tomorrow evening I'm proud to be joining Jyl from Mom It Forward, Time To Play and a group of amazing moms at the Girls' Night Out Time To Play Twitter Party, where we'll be tweeting about one of my favorite topics, kids' parties!

What: Girls’ Night Out (#gno) Twitter party (Click here to learn about #gno!)

Disclosure: I did not receive a sample or monetary compensation for this post. By posting about this contest I am entered to win a Nintendo Wii and Amazon giftcards from Global Influence. Unless clearly stated, the views and opinions expressed here are my own.

Over the past 6 months or so, I've been increasingly surprised/amazed/disgusted by the state of my sons' jeans, cargo pants and sweatpants when they come home from kindergarten. The number of tears, holes, grass stains and mud stains they bring home are out of this world! It's all that running on the soccer field, and now that the weather is warmer, they'll be up to their armpits in sports and stains. I love it that they're living it up and playing hard, but those stains need to come off.

New Tide Plus Febreze Freshness™ Sport was designed to help remove tough stains and odors from clothes that take the hardest hits – leaving your entire load clean and fresh And, what’s more, the freshness technology in the detergent releases freshness as you move -- giving you added confidence on the court, in the field or at the gym.

The detergent works great on workout gear like C9 by Champion®, a high-quality line of performance wear available at Target and Target.com. A friend of mine gave me a C9 tank top and running shorts for my birthday, and I wear them all the time when I work out!

Win A $10 Target card and savings on Tide, Febreeze and C9!To celebrate the release of new Tide Plus Febreze Freshness Sport, Procter & Gamble is kindly providing me with TWO gift packs to give away! Each gift pack contains:

GIVEAWAY 1: Blogger FollowersI'm giving one of these gift packs to one of my Bonggamom Finds followers. To enter, follow Bonggamom Finds on Blogger, then leave a comment on this post telling me you're a follower.

You'll gain another extra entry. Leave a comment here with a link to your tweet.

Maximum of 3 entries per person on this post. US residents only. This giveaway ends at midnight PST on April 13, 2010; I will draw a winner at random on April 14 from all valid comments on this post. I will post the winner's name here as soon as the winner confirms acceptance. For additional giveaway rules, click here.

Maximum of 3 entries per person on Facebook. US residents only. This giveaway ends at midnight PST on April 13, 2010; I will draw a winner at random on April 14 from all valid comments on my Facebook Fan Page wall. I will post the winner's name here and on my Facebook Fan Page as soon as the winner confirms acceptance. For additional giveaway rules, click here.

Join both giveaways to maximize your chances of winning! Good luck!

Disclosure: I received a set of coupons and Target gift card identical to the sets being given away, but was not paid to review the product or give my opinions. Unless clearly stated, the views and opinions expressed here are my own.

My daughter fell in love with Taylor Swift even before she knew who she was. Last year she got a Kids Bop cd which featured "Teardrops on My Guitar", and she went crazy over the song. She and all her friends know it and love to sing it, so much so that 3Po and Jammy have learned to like the song! So when I told her that I would be reviewing a doll that actually sang "Teardrops on My Guitar", she was so happy.

The BasicsHere's how Jakks Pacific describes the Taylor Swift doll:Jakks brings “It Girl” Taylor Swift to the toy aisle! The Taylor Swift Performance Collection Doll Assortment sings a 30 second highlight of one of Swift’s hit songs, such as “You Belong to Me”, “Our Song,” “Teardrops on My Guitar,” “Picture to Burn,” and “Love Story”. Each doll is dressed in Swift’s signature outfit from the song’s video and also comes with accessories, including a guitar and hair brush. Collect them all! Ages 6+, Suggested Retail Price: $19.99

The Taylor Swift doll is one of 4 dolls in the Taylor Swift Performance Collection. In addition to "Teardrops on My Guitar", there are 3 other versions. In each of the other versions, the Taylor Swift doll wears a different show outfit and sings a different tune. The Performance Collection is part of Jakks Pacific's new Spring 2010 line-up, which also includes new Disney Fairies dolls and playsets.

The BonggaI think we lucked out and received the best doll in the whole collection. Of course, the Taylor Swift doll is the same no matter which song she sings: she's really pretty, with curly blond hair and sweet features that haven't been made up in a tarty way, unlike some other fashion dolls I detest *cough!*Bratz!*cough!* -- in fact, a lot like Taylor Swift herself. But I like her dress (a sea green evening dress) the best out of the 4 outfits because it's elegant, yet not too poufy-princess-y. And of course, it's great that we got the doll that sings The Pea's favorite Taylor Swift song, "Teardrops on My Guitar".

The BlahIf only the Taylor Swift doll sang a bit longer than 30 seconds!

The Bottom LineThe Taylor Swift doll is the perfect collectible for any Taylor Swift fan -- and what tween girl isn't?

Disclosure: I received a complimentary product sample, but was not paid to review the product or give my opinions. Unless clearly stated, the views and opinions expressed here are my own.

Spring break is coming up, and summer isn't far behind! We've got a trip to Europe planned this summer, but we didn't really have anything planned for Spring Break until I got invited to the Child's Play Bloggers Brunch down in LA. Then the wheels in my head started turning and now it looks like we might be taking a little detour to one of my favorite places on earth, the Disneyland Resort!

The folks at Disney are kindly providing me with 4 media passes to visit the resort for a couple of days -- but everyone can take advantage of some great Disneyland Resort deals that will make The Happiest Place on Earth more affordable than ever. Families can book a three-night, three-day Disneyland Resort Vacation Package for travel from May through September -- and get two more days and nights free.

1) This package is good not only with the 3 Disneyland Resort hotels, it also applies when you stay at participating Anaheim-area Disneyland Good Neighbor Hotels. So you can tailor your Disney vacation to fit any budget!

2) This package is valid for travel between May 1, 2010 and September 26, 2010. That's peak season, people! So you don't have to take the kids from school and have them miss out on their lessons (yes, I know the kids love it, but we're the parents and we know you can't pull that kind of thing off too often). Who says you can't get good deals at the Disneyland Resort during peak season!

3) Even if you already have theme park admission tickets (say, you have an annual pass, or your kids were given tickets courtesy of the grandparents), you can still save on two-night stays or longer at the Disneyland Resort Hotels. As a companion deal, the resort is offering 40 percent off room rates at the Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, 35 percent off room rates at the Disneyland Hotel, and 30 percent off room rates at the Paradise Pier Hotel!

At last, the movie How to Train Your Dragon is out in movie theaters today! We've been waiting to watch this movie ever since we saw the trailer last month. The kids are especially eager to see it because yesterday we received samples of the How To Train Your Dragon videogame by Activision, which was released on March 23rd for Xbox 360, PS3, Wii and Nintendo DS.

The kids are going to play the game this weekend and I'll have a review post up soon to let everyone know what we thought of the game. In the meantime, here's a description of the game from Activision:

How to Train Your Dragon launches gamers into a third-person action-adventure as a Viking hero where they must embark upon an epic quest to become the ultimate dragon trainer. Gamers can play as characters “Hiccup” or Astrid” on the vast Island of Berk, which features expanded locales from the film including Vikings’ Village, Wild Zone, Training Zone and Fight Arena. In this truly larger-than-life adventure, players will train dragons, explore environments and battle in prestigious dragon tournaments as they battle for Viking victory. Plus, gamers can become the Dragon hero of their living room as they square-off with friends and family in endless head-to-head multi-player combat!

How to EnterDo not leave a comment here! To enter, go to the Bonggamom Finds Facebook Fan Page and leave a comment on my Wall, telling me you are entering the How to Train Your Dragon PS3 giveaway.

* If you share this giveaway with your own Facebook friends, you get an extra entry -- just leave a second comment on my Wall telling me you've shared the how to Train Your Dragon giveaway with your FB friends.

* If you tweet this:Win a How to Train Your Dragon videogame for PS3 on the @bonggafinds FB fan page http://ow.ly/1rmdb #giveaway ends April 10 pls RT!

you get another extra entry. Just leave a third comment on my Wall telling me you tweeted, and include the link to your tweet.

Maximum of 3 entries per person. US residents only. This giveaway ends at midnight PST on April 10, 2010; I will draw a winner at random on April 11 from all valid comments on my Facebook Fan Page wall. I will post the winner's name here and on my Facebook Fan Page as soon as the winner confirms acceptance. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

Disclosure: I received samples of the videogame for myself and to give away, but was not paid to review the product or give my opinions. Unless clearly stated, the views and opinions expressed here are my own.

There's just a week left to celebrate March into Literacy Month, and Leapfrog is sending the month off with a bang! They're hosting their first-ever Literacy Luncheon Twitter Party, next Wednesday, March 31, from 10-11 AM PDT. LeapFrog’s reading expert, Dr. Carolyn Jaynes—a former classroom teacher and University Professor of Education—will host. She'll be sharing tips to get kids reading more often, and loving to read.

Leapfrog is inviting everyone to join the conversation, learn some great early literacy tips, and share some of their own. Plus, you'll get a chance to win one of five Tag Readers! I'm going, are you?

Here's some more information about the event:SAVE THE DATE: Wednesday, March 31 @ 10 AM PDT. You're invited to the LeapFrog Literacy Luncheon on Twitter! Join host and literacy expert Carolyn Jaynes, PhD, in a cyber-discussion about promoting literacy skill development in young children. Follow the link for participation rules. http://bit.ly/9p2F0c

Win A Tag Reader here on Bonggamom Finds!Leapfrog is generously providing an extra Tag Reader to give away to one lucky Bonggamom Finds reader who RSVP's to the Leapfrog Twitter party -- this is in addition to the five Tag Readers that will be given away at the Leapfrog Twitter party! If you have a preschooler or kindergartener, this is one tool you definitely want in your library. It has really helped my boys learn to read!Required EntryTo enter to win the Tag Reader giveaway on Bonggamom Finds, you'll need to Do All These 3 Things:

When you're done doing all 3, leave a single comment on this post saying you did all 3 things -- also leave your Facebook name and a link to your tweet.

Extra EntriesWe've got a super-short entry period, so we're giving you ten extra ways to enter! Don't forget to leave a comment for each extra entry you complete (tell me which extra entry you did and some way I can check, i.e. your FB id, a link to your tweet, etc..)

1) Share the link to the Leapfrog Twitter party -- http://bit.ly/9p2F0c -- on your Facebook home page.

You can tweet this out once a day until 10AM PST on March 31, for a total of 6 extra twitter entries.

This giveaway will end on March 31, 10AM PST. Good luck, and see you at the Leapfrog Twitter Party!

Disclosure: I did not receive a sample or monetary compensation for this post. Leapfrog is providing the Tag Reader in this giveaway. Unless clearly stated, the views and opinions expressed here are my own.

Welcome to Bonggamom's Friday Finds! I'm glad so many of you are finding this to be a useful way to get more traffic to your giveaways. And as a person who loves entering giveaways, I have to admit it's a great, easy way to find out where all the best giveaways are.

So feel free to leave links to your giveaways, everyone. And don't forget to get cracking and enter everyone else's, too!

Here's a multiple-choice question: What's the worst thing about sending your kid to school?a) Waking up early in the morningb) Helping your kid with homework (or doing it for them)c) Junky cafeteria foodd) Having to buy 10 rolls of wrapping paper for your kid's fundraiser3) Lice

For me, it's no contest. I can set my alarm clock, force (or bribe) my kids to do their own homework, pack their lunches and give out wrapping paper to relatives as presents -- but lice are like the plague. They're the worst houseguests ever!

When The Pea got lice, checking and removing the little buggers from her hair was an agonizing process, and I'm not eager to go through that again anytime soon. I bought her a lice prevention shampoo, but didn't really care for the smell. So when MomSelect invited me to try the Zippity Doo line of haircare products, I jumped at the chance, and I'm so glad I did! Here's what I thought of them:

The BasicsZippity Doo is a line of children’s hair care products help prevent lice infestation, and are mild enough for daily use.

The BonggaThese product smell heavenly! Everyone in the family loves the minty, tea-tree scent, even 3Po, who usually detests mint. We're really enjoying the shampoo and the conditioner, and The Pea loves using the detangler spray to comb out her rat's nest of a head in the mornings.

The BlahThe problem with lice prevention shampoos is that you can never really tell whether they work or not! I'll have to get back to you all on this the next time there is a lice infestation at school!

The Bottom LineWhether Zippity-Doo products really do prevent lice or not, they are a great haircare line that smells great and leaves kids' hair feeling nice and soft!

Win It!One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive the full line of Zippity Doo products:

Maximum of 5 entries per person. This giveaway ends at midnight PST on April 7, 2010; I will draw a winner at random on April 8 and post the winner's name as soon as the winner confirms acceptance. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

Disclosure: I received product samples courtesy of Zippity Doo and MomSelect in order to review this product, but no monetary compensation. Unless clearly indicated, the views and opinions expressed here are my own.

April is Earth Month, and a great way to celebrate it is to look at our lifestyles and see whether there are any ways we can reduce our consumption and carbon footprint. So to aid you in your own paths to eco-awareness, I'm helping CURLS haircare products conduct an informal survey about the ways in which us Curlies contribute to the demise of the environment. The goal is not to make Curlies feel bad, rather help them to make a difference!

Here are the survey questions:1) How many partially used bottles* do you currently have underneath your vanity or sink area?

2) How many different brands are represented from the number that you listed in Question #1?

*For the purpose of this survey, the word bottles is used to describe any hair care product container. This includes but is not limited to bottles, jars, tubs, tubes, bags and/or any other containers)

Important Note: Your participation in this study is completely voluntary. Your survey responses will be strictly confidential and data from this research will be reported only in the aggregate. Your information will be coded and will remain confidential.Disclosure: I will be receiving a CURLS tshirt as a thank-you for posting this survey, but was not paid to review the product or give my opinions. Unless clearly stated, the views and opinions expressed here are my own.

One of my favorite companies, Lands End, is hosting a Twitter Party tonight. I had so much fun at their last Twitter event (I even won a leather-trimmed canvas hobo bag!), I encourage everyone to attend! Here are the details:

Join Lands' End and representatives from the Islands Of The Bahamas and iexplore.com for a Twitter Event to celebrate the Lands' End's Bahamas Adventure to Harbour Island promotion at The Hubwww.landsend.com/thehub. The site features engaging content focusing on travel through the summer as well as the chance to win a trip for four to the pink-sand beaches of Harbour Island. Be a part of this exciting Twitter Event and tweet with representatives from Lands' End, the Islands Of The Bahamas and iexplore.com. The event will feature more than 25 fun giveaways ranging from Lands' End luggage, beach towels, travel kits, beach bags and gift cards.

Disclosure: I did not receive a sample or monetary compensation for this post. By posting this information, I am entered in a draw to win a Lands End giftcard.. Unless clearly stated, the views and opinions expressed here are my own.

Have you seen Yummie Tummie's 2010 Spring Collection yet? My two favorite items are the Ruffle Top and the Cowlneck Tank . Unfortunately the Cowlneck Tank is all sold out but the Yummie Tummie folks must have read about how I'm slobbering all over the Ruffle Top, because they sent me one to review!

Here's my attempt to recreate the photo of the Yummie Tummie model:

Not bad considering the location was my bedroom, not some hi-tech studio, and my six-year old son was the photographer, using a point-and-shoot camera that's older than he is.

It's a really adorable top! The ruffle is flirty and fun, and makes me feel like I should be heading off to Vegas and partying at The Palms for Spring Break.

But, pssssst! I'll let you in on a little secret.

I'm not a college student anymore.

Which means I have a bit more flab and a bit less fab than when I was actually young enough to go on Spring Break. But never fear, this is a Yummie Tummie top, so it smooths out all the flabby bits without making you feel like you can't breath, or make you look like some burrito bursting at the seams because it's got a little too much filling. The material is more cotton-y, not shiny and Lycra-ish like underwear, so you can wear it on its own. Truth be told, I wouldn't have the guts to wear this top if it weren't a Yummie Tummie.

One thing to note: the ruffle badly needed ironing after I put it in the wash -- but the care instruction tag had a big NO IRON symbol on it. I ironed it anyway (just the ruffle, not the tank itself) on a cooler setting, using a cotton napkin to shield the fabric because I was terrified I'd scorch it and ruin my cute new top. It turned out fine.

One other tip I'd give is to order your Yummie Tummies true to size so you take full advantage of its Slimming Superpowers. Against my fellow Yummie Tummie Brand Ambassador Cat's advice, I ordered a size larger than I usually do (I haven't been exercising and I thought I had moved up a size), and as a result, the neckline is a bit looser and the material wrinkles a bit at the waist. My fault, not theirs.

So ladies, the moral of the story is, Trust in The Force their sizing chart. They're like the gods of shapewear; they really do know best. And despite my sizing error, I love this top -- I think it looks hot and I intend to shimmy in it all through the spring and summer!

Maybe I should book a room at The Palms after all.

Disclosure: I am a Yummie Tummie Brand Ambassador and occasionally receive complimentary samples of their clothing (including the item in this review). I was not paid to review the product or give my opinions. Unless clearly stated, the views and opinions expressed here are my own.

Spring is here, and toy companies are coming up with fun new ways for kids to play and pass the time. Jakks Pacific recently sent me a Phineas Eye Bugger toy to review, and even though my kids don't watch the Phineas and Ferb tv show too often, they love playing with this hilarious eye-popping toy!

The BasicsThe Phineas and Ferb Eye Buggers are soft rubber toys with eyes that pop out of their heads when you squeeze their bodies. Each one comes with a lenticular trading card.

Here's how Jakks Pacific describes this toy:Eye buggers are squeezable toys that will keep kids laughing all day long! Just give them a squeeze and watch their eyes bug out of their head! Ages 6+, Suggested Retail Price: $5.99

The Phineas Eyebugger they sent us is part of Jakks Pacific's new spring line-up of Phineas and Ferb toys, based on Phineas and Ferb, the #1 Disney Channel series for boys ages 6-11. Other toys in the line-up include the Phineas and Ferb 3” Figure Two Packs and Ferb Eyebugger.

The BonggaMy kids love this toy! Phineas has joined their Playmobil, Tinkertoys and Webkinz animals in some eclectic playacting game, and so far he has been the bad guy, the teacher, or some role or other. They're constantly squeezing Phineas and contorting him into various hilarious poses and laughing at how silly he looks.

Fortunately, the pop-out eyes seem pretty sturdy; despite being subjected to all sorts of abuse by my kids, they haven't separated from Phineas' body. Even I have to admit, it's hard to stop playing with Phineas; there's something therapeutic about squeezing and mashing up this toy, kind of like those small rubber stress balls.

The BlahI'm not a fan of all the plastic and paper used in packaging this toy. It's already a big hunk of plastic/rubber, and I would have preferred it to come in a plastic net bag (like the kind marbles come in) to save on packaging.

The Bottom LinePhineas and Ferb Eyebuggers are as funny as the characters on the tv series! They are fun novelty toys that would be great to stuff into any kids' Easter basket!

Disclosure: I received a complimentary product sample, but was not paid to review the product or give my opinions. Unless clearly stated, the views and opinions expressed here are my own.

The Pea got started with origami when she was in first grade. Her amazing first-grade teacher realized all the educational benefits of origami -- it helps students with mathematical reasoning, spacial reasoning, following sequences, fractions, geometry, as well as enhancing fine motor skills, patience and attention to detail -- so not a week went by that The Pea went home with some origami creation or another. She's got quite an origami repertoire now, but even though she has a couple of origami books she hasn't really gotten back into it -- until we were invited to review Klutz's new craft book, Fashion Origami. Now she has a book that shows her how to fold dresses, purses, shoes and more, she's on fire!

Here's how Klutz describes Fashion Origami:Turn single sheets of paper into sassy fashions that are anything but flat. Super-clear, step-by-step instructions show how to fold ten unique pieces, from party dresses to pajamas. The results are cute, cool, and uniquely dimensional. Custom-designed origami paper in an array of bold and bright patterns gives each project an up-to-date look — a fabulous fusion of fresh style and timeless craft. The included sequins, ribbon, and glue make it easy to add your own flair.

The BonggaWhat a great concept for a Klutz book! I've seen origami books that provide instructions for animals (and Klutz already has a great Origami book), but this book really goes right to the heart of many girls' interests -- fashion. The projects in Fashion Origami are adorable, which means every girl is going to want to create one, and they're far more likely to keep using it.

The book takes things one step further by providing sequins, ribbon and glue, which The Pea loves since she can really bling her creations out. The results are nothing short of amazing:

I really think The Pea has me beat on this one; I really couldn't do any better. She's enjoys folding and decorating dresses and purses much more than she ever enjoyed folding rabbits and stars and cranes, and it makes me feel good that all the while she's folding, she's also learning, learning, learning. And she can keep using Origami Fashions even after the origami paper is gone. We can always buy more paper, but this book is irreplacable!

The BlahThe Pea had quite a difficult time with folding those shoes, and she said she would have liked it if each project had included a difficulty rating (i.e. 5 stars for expert folders, 1 star for beginners, etc..). To be fair, the origami shoe project did say that it was a difficult project, but I agree with The Pea: a star rating would be an easy, visual way for kids to know which projects they are comfortable attempting.

The Bottom LineKlutz Fashions Origami combines girls' love of fashion with the exquisite art of origami. It's a wonderful way to occupy their time and develop crucial math, fine motor, behavioral skills. Parents will love the way this book exercises their daughter's creativity and sparks her imagination!

Win It!One lucky Bonggamom Finds Reader will be chosen to receive a copy of Fashion Origami by Klutz! To enter, simply visit the Klutz website, then come back here and tell me which other Klutz books would catch your child's fancy (this is the required entry and must be completed for any extra entries to count).

For extra entries, you can do any or all of the following (please leave a separate comment for each extra entry):

Maximum of 5 entries per person. This giveaway ends at midnight PST on April 6, 2010; I will draw a winner at random on April 7 and post the winner's name as soon as the winner confirms acceptance. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

Disclosure: I received a complimentary product sample, but was not paid to review the product or give my opinions. Unless clearly stated, the views and opinions expressed here are my own.

April is Earth Month, and since it's just a blink of an eye away, it's time to start thinking of ways we can reduce our carbon footprint and be kinder to the earth. One easy change we can make to our lifestyles is to buy more organic clothing. With more and more clothing companies offering organic options, finding cute, affordable organic clothing is easier than ever.

Case in point: CafePress, the popular online site for user-designed products, offers many of their designs in organic material. I was so excited to be invited by CafePress to select and review a pair of American Apparel organic tees for myself and The Pea -- and even more excited to have them sponsor a giveaway on Bonggamom Finds for a second pair! To find out how to enter, keep reading....

The BasicsCafe Press is the place for personalized items. You can find millions of personalized gifts at CafePress – for any topic, interest, or brand! They offer a multitude of products (mugs, bumper stickers, bags, hats, umbrellas, baby onesies, hoodies, shirts, and more), styles, colors, sizes and designs. Their American Apparel line of organic tees has so many styles and designs to choose from -- and if you can't find a design you want, you can upload your own.

The BonggaThe Pea and I had lots of fun browsing around the Cafe Press website looking for tshirt designs! The Pea took less than 5 minutes to chose a Peace, Love, Dance design on a pink spaghetti top (I'm sure all her ballet classmates will be envious). I took a bit longer to choose -- okay, waaay longer; hey, there are so many great designs! -- but in the end I got a Peace, Love, Recycle design on a cream organic tee. Whoever designed the swirly green logo is a genius, and I will wear this shirt throughout Earth Month with pride. We're both ecstatic with our choice, and each of us is convinced that we ended up with the better design.

I'm really impressed by how quickly our order was processed and shipped -- and I don't think this is a fluke, either, given the lightning-fast turnaround time I experienced when I ordered a CafePress holiday ornament last December. The shirts turned out even better than I had hoped -- the printing is high-quality, with no faded or blurry designs -- and the tshirt cotton (mine especially), is nice and soft.

The BlahI found the neckline of the women's organic tee a wee bit too high. And I was a bit disappointed that I wasn't able to get The Pea's spaghetti-strap tee in an organic material -- or maybe I couldn't figure out how to get it in organic. I wish CafePress would provide organic options for each and every one of the cute shirts they sell!

The Bottom LineWhether you buy one for yourself or as a present, American Apparel organic shirts by CafePress make a unique, personalized, eco-friendly statement. With so many styles and designs to choose from, you're sure to find something you like -- and if you can't, you can create your own!

Win It!One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive a pair of American Apparel organic tees, one for you and one for your daughter! You can choose from hundreds of cute designs! To enter, simply go to CafePress, then leave a comment on this post and tell me which design you would choose.

For extra entries, you can do any or all of the following, (you can only do each extra entry once; please leave a separate comment for each extra entry):

Maximum of 6 entries per person. This giveaway ends at midnight PST on April 9, 2010; I will draw a winner at random on April 10 and post the winner's name as soon as the winner confirms acceptance. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

Disclosure: I received complimentary product samples, but was not paid to review the product or give my opinions. Unless clearly stated, the views and opinions expressed here are my own.

I recently posted about how much I love Shabby Apple dresses. They are beautifully made and make any gal feel glamorous! They're also reasonably priced, with many dresses in the $70-$80 range -- but if you're feeling lucky, you could enter to win a Shabby Apple dress on any of these blogs:

Disclosure: I did not receive a sample or monetary compensation for this post. By posting about the giveaways above, I gain entry into those giveaways. Unless clearly stated, the views and opinions expressed here are my own.

Here's a description of the event:Rosalind Wiseman – the best-selling author of Queen Bees & Wannabes, the basis for the hit movie Mean Girls – will be in town hosting a workshop filled with mother-daughter bonding, but also an interactive discussion about confidence, friendships and how to navigate those sweat-inducing “moments”. She will also be signing copies of her books, which attendees will receive at the event.

We welcome any adult with a young girl in their life to attend the event. Fathers, big sisters, Girl Scout troop leaders, aunts, etc. are all welcome! Attend with the 8-14 year old girl in your life and share important conversations about her friendships, growth, and development.

Win it!One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will win a pair of tickets so they can attend the Atherton, CA event with the 8-14 year old girl in their life. To enter, just leave a comment on this post and tell me who you would take -- your niece, granddaughter, daughter, etc... I'll draw a winner at random from the comments on April 8, 2010 April 1, 2010.

Update 3/22 -- New cities added for the giveaway!I've just been informed that the winner of this giveaway can also choose to receive tickets to the Washington, D.C. event (on April 6) or the Denver, CO event (on April 16)! So if you live near those areas, you can join this giveaway, too!

.... which means I need to change the giveaway end date from April 8 to April 1. Here are the revised giveaway rules:

To enter, just leave a comment on this post and tell me

1) Who you would take -- your niece, granddaughter, daughter, etc...2) Which event you would like to attend -- the one in Atherton CA, Washington DC or Denver CO.

Take your cue from the animals: spring is the best time to have a baby. Signs of new life are everywhere: the grass is green again, flowers are starting to bloom, birds are starting to chirp. For those giving birth at this time of the year, I'm loving these Baby Egg Nests by The Baby Bunch. I did a review and giveaway for The Baby Bunch a couple of months ago, and like the last gift item they sent me (a Baby Bunch Bouquet), the originality and creativity of the Baby Egg Nests have blown me away.

The BasicsThe Baby Bunch sells baby gifts that are both practical and beautiful: soft, 100% cotton baby clothes arranged to look like a bunch of flowers or cupcakes or crayons or eggs. There are also organic cotton gift packages and gift packages for moms.

Here's how Baby Bunch describes their Baby Egg Nests:Go green and help baby leave a tiny footprint with this clever organic baby sock bouquet. Each Baby Egg Nest contains three pairs of dusty pink 100% organic cotton baby socks cleverly rolled to look like eggs –so precious for baby, and a handcrafted lavender scented bird sachet - perfect for the new mom. The organic cotton socks are sized to fit infants 0-6 months or up to 16 lbs. The three pairs of sock “eggs” and the mother bird sachet arrive nestled in a natural nest - a unique spin on baby sock bouquets. Give a Baby Egg Nest and hatch compliments and thanks.

The BonggaThese Baby Bunch Egg Nests are adorable! Baby Bunch gets a perfect score for beautiful and creative presentation, guaranteed to elicit lots of, "Awwwww... how cute!" comments at baby showers. I received two egg nests, one with pink socks and one with blue socks. Each gift set came wrapped in cellophane, with a cute brown ribbon, dotted in either pink or blue, and a gift tag that looks just like the bird sachet inside. The nest is made of twigs sprayed with gold paint; it makes the perfect Easter centerpiece when you put a couple of dyed Easter eggs inside it.

The socks are extremely soft (they're made of organic cotton) , and they're actually large enough for babies to wear longer than a month! . I also think the sweet-smelling bird sachet is a nice touch, because it shows you're thinking of the new mother as well as the new baby. And at $19, it doesn't cost a fortune: you get a beautifully packaged gift set for a reasonable price!

The BlahI can't think of anything I'd change about this sweet little present.

Win It!One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive a free Baby Egg Nest from Baby Bunch in their choice of color (pink or blue). To enter, check out the other products on The Baby Bunch, then come back here and tell me which one you would love to receive as a baby shower present (or would love to gift to a new parent).

For extra entries, you can do any or all of the following, (you can only do each extra entry once; please leave a separate comment for each extra entry):

Maximum of 7 entries per person. US mailing addresses only. This giveaway ends at midnight PST on April 3, 2010; I will draw a winner at random on April 4 and post the winner's name as soon as the winner confirms acceptance. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

Disclosure: I received a complimentary product sample, but was not paid to review the product or give my opinions. Unless clearly stated, the views and opinions expressed here are my own.

Welcome to Bonggamom's Friday Finds! I'm glad so many of you are finding this to be a useful way to get more traffic to your giveaways. And as a person who loves entering giveaways, I have to admit it's a great, easy way to find out where all the best giveaways are.

So feel free to leave links to your giveaways, everyone. And don't forget to get cracking and enter everyone else's, too!

One lucky Bonggamom Finds Facebook fan will win a trio of quality, organic, environmentally-friendly hair care products from The Tonic Shop. Here's what you could win:

Threesome: The girlfriend approved 3-in-1Threesome is an innovative all-in-one hair care solution for the active waterman looking to get rid of a little extra baggage (and salt): a high performance shampoo, conditioner and body wash in one convenient bottle. Indulge with a powerful cleansing formula that utilizes a blend of proteins and nourishing botanicals enriched with vitamin B5 to help eliminate salty hair and skin that results from those long sessions. Infused with natural peppermint and tea tree oils to create a multi-sensory experience and stimulating tingle, Threesome replenishes moisture to tired hair and skin worn by the elements. Except for the sandals and smile on your face, no one will know you just got out of the water. From beach break to board meeting, make it a Threesome.

■3-in-1 shampoo, conditioner and stimulating body wash■Good to you and the environment: Paraben-free, sulfate-free, not tested on animals, contains no animal products or by-products, environmentally friendly and completely non-toxic.■Detangles, protects and leaves your hair and skin sinfully clean■Lather into wet hair, rinse, and repeat (if you can handle it)

Luster: For the knotty girls!Luster is a leave-in conditioning mist with powerful UV-inhibitors and natural botanical oils designed to protect hair from the damaging effects of sun, salt, wind and chlorine. Use before or after your outdoor exploits to avoid embarrassing stares, awkward silences and multiple trips to the bathroom mirror. Our unique cream-to-mist technology doubles as a luxurious moisturizer that re-hydrates dull skin with aloe vera and grapeseed oil, leaving a subtle scent of remote tropical island. Think French West Indies meets the Caribbean with a delicious blend of vanilla, banana and a hint of sparkling orange extract. Luster is the answer to split ends, breakage and dry, tangled hair. From knotty to nice, give a new meaning to surfer hair and luster your locks!

■Leave-in conditioning mist and luxurious body moisturizer made with aloe vera, grapeseed oil and wheat protein, for added volume and protection.■Good to you and the environment: Paraben-free, sulfate-free, not tested on animals, contains no animal products or by-products, environmentally friendly and completely non-toxic.■Spray on wet or dry hair, comb through, use generously for sleek, shiny hair. Enviable!

The Chronic: Highest quality for all the homies.The Chronic shampoo and conditioning system is a potent formulation of superior plant-infused ingredients created to cleanse and fortify weather beaten hair. The lightweight formulas gently cleanse and restore balance while improving the overall condition of your hair with intense shine and added volume. Infused with a calming blend of flower and plant aromas. It’s The Chronic, yo!

■Daily shampoo and conditioner regimen specifically formulated for normal and color treated hair.■Good to you and the environment: Paraben-free, sulfate-free, not tested on animals, contains no animal products or by-products, environmentally friendly and completely non-toxic.■Leaves hair silky and smooth.■Shampoo: massage into wet hair, lather and rinse. Conditioner: apply to clean, damp hair; comb through and rinse thoroughly. See you in the green room!

How to EnterDo not leave a comment here! To enter, go to the Bonggamom Finds Facebook Fan Page and leave a comment on my Wall, telling me you are entering the Tonic giveaway. If you share this giveaway with your own Facebook friends, you get an extra entry -- just leave a second comment on my Wall telling me you've shared the Tonic giveaway with your FB friends.

Maximum of 2 entries per person. US residents only. This giveaway ends at midnight PST on April 2, 2010; I will draw a winner at random on April 3 from all valid comments on my Facebook Fan Page wall. I will post the winner's name here and on my Facebook Fan Page as soon as the winner confirms acceptance. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

Disclosure: I did not receive a sample or monetary compensation for this post.

Alfie thinks the word "Awesome" is sadly overused these days, to the point where it has lost it's meaning,. When you do see something truly Awesome -- like the Grand Canyon, which we visited last October -- you're at a loss to describe it because the appropriate word, Awesome, is wasted on things like delicious chocolate milkshakes or a really good movie.

I have to agree with him -- the Grand Canyon was Awesome, and people do overuse the word, but last December I was introduced to an online scrapbooking site that I think deserves that description. I think in its own way, Scrapblog is pretty darn awesome! Last December I did a product review for the Scrapblog service (i.e. how it works) and hosted a giveaway for a Scrapblog photo calendar, but I never talked about the finished product. Let me remedy that now.....

Scrapblog is an online site that lets ordinary users create beautiful multimedia scrapbooks. The drag-and-drop functionality makes it so easy, as I found out when I reviewed Scrapblog and created my own. It really only takes 3 steps to create a scrapbook:

1) Select a kit -- you can choose from a variety of kits with premade layouts.2) Select photos -- you can upload photos from your computer or use photos on your other online accounts (i.e. Facebook, Flickr, Photobucket and more).3) The Scrapblog tool will populate your online scrapbook automatically.

You can also customize the layouts, add stickers, backgrounds, photos, etc.. You can spend as much or as little time as you want on it!

When you are done, you can turn the scrapbook you created into calendars, keepsake books, notecards, postcards, and other products. You can purchase and print out individual pages. You can even share your scrapbook online, and not just on the Scrapblog site. I love the fact that you can share the scrabooks on Facebook or on your blog, so family members don't have to actually be physically present in order to flip through the pages. Here's the awesome Grand Canyon scrapbook I made on Scrapblog:

The online scrapbook is so great, and so convenient (and so free -- yes, you can create and share a scrapblog for free!), it's difficult to say which one I prefer -- the online version, or the keepsake photo book that I ordered from that online scrapbook.

It's hardbound with a fabric cover and your cover photo in front. The pages are thick and glossy, and the printing is very high quality. The keepsake book is somewhat longer than other photo books I've ordered from other places, which makes it a bit inconvenient to store, but the wider layouts do showcase the photos much better.

There's just something about having a physical book in your hands, with nice, thick pages to leaf through. After all, you can't exactly drag all your guests in front of your computer to brag about your beautiful album; it's so much more subtle to leave it on the coffee table, where they can pick it up and compliment you on your artistic layouts and all the time and effort you took to make it (tip: just smile and say Thank You)!

The photo book is so nice, we are buying a second copy and giving it to my in-laws (who accompanied us on the trip) as a present! Thanks, Scrapblog, for showing us how easy it can be to come up with such beautiful keepsakes!

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary photo book in order to review this product, but no monetary compensation. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

I first heard about Shabby Apple almost two years ago when they were featured on the Silicon Valley Moms Blog. I immediately fell in love with their chic dresses, so I was delighted to be invited to select a product from their current line and review it.

A return to what dresses were always meant to be — a one-piece outfit. No need to add anything...no tank tops, no cardigans, nothing (except accessories, of course!).

The BonggaShabby Apple dresses are gorgeous! They have such an vintage vibe about them and a hint of old-fashioned glamour. Not that they're something a granny would wear -- these dresses are sexy and stylish. When I slipped on the navy Bon Voyage dress they sent me, I felt like, well, in the words of Shania Twain: "Man... I feel like a woman".

I don't know what it is; the dress is deceptively simple in cut and color, and my proportions are nothing like the ones of the model wearing the dress in the online photo, but I really feel like the dress made me look good. It would probably flatter almost any figure!

Speaking of flattering, I appreciate how they describe how their dresses fit (i.e. generous, snug, true-to-size) so you can make a more informed judgment about which size to get. They also have a great Fit to Flatter tool:

It gives you suggestions on which Shabby Apple dresses will flatter you most, based your body type. And if you do end up ordering the wrong size, just send it back and order another size: they offer free shipping on exchanges.

The BlahDid I mention I DETEST ironing? I knew that the Bon Voyage dress had pleats all over the bottom, but I still couldn't resist choosing it, and I guess the price I have to pay for being able to waltz around in this dress is having to iron all those pleats. Sigh.

The Bottom LineShabby Apple dresses are stylish and chic and feminine to the core. Check out their latest fashions, you're sure to find a dress you love.

Disclosure: The dress in the photo is a complimentary sample, but I was not paid to review this product or give my opinion. Unless clearly stated, the views and opinions expressed here are my own.

Disclaimer

The opinions expressed on the Bonggamom Finds blog are the personal views of the author; any reviews or recommendations are not intended to constitute medical advice or treatment in any form. In addition, neither the Bonggamom Finds blog nor its author are liable, and cannot be held liable, for any dissatisfaction you may have with the product, sponsor or any injuries that may be caused by use of that product.

Posts on this blog routinely link out to other sites; I am not responsible and cannot be held liable for anything on those sites.

I occasionally receive samples of the products I review on this blog. I also occasionally accept monetary compensation for posts on this site. If and when I receive either product samples or compensation for writing a review post, this will be clearly stated in the body of the review post.